School to R&D on emissions

Maine Maritime Academy has been awarded a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for $1.4 million — the largest in the school’s history — to develop a Marine Engine Testing and Emissions Laboratory (METEL).

The state-of-the-art facility will focus on the research and development of emissions reductions technologies and engine efficiency enhancement technologies for marine and related power plants to meet MARPOL emissions regulations.

“Maine Maritime Academy’s engineering and transportation education programs are addressing critical workforce needs,” said academy President William J. Brennan. “Our specialized programs, combined with our fully capable working waterfront, make it possible for students to be involved in hands-on research in these new technologies that have the potential for worldwide impact to the marine transportation sector. This is very exciting news for our students and faculty, and for the future of the college.”

The grant is one of 33 awarded to U.S. University Transportation Centers (UTCs).

“With our academic collaborator, the University of Maine at Orono, and commercial partners Sea Change Group, Global Marine Solutions, and Thermoelectric Power Systems, we are working to implement marine diesel engine performance and emissions-reduction improvements that are commercially viable and cost-effective,” said Richard Kimball, professor of engineering at Maine Maritime and project director/principal investigator of METEL.

For more information, visit mainemaritime.edu.